COMMITTEE ENERGY AND COMJv!ERCE
PHIL GING REY, M.D. JTI! Il!STR!CT, GEORGIA
Sllllf'OMMITTEES WIVIV .HOUs1;.C( /rnNCH{ HEALTH
ENVIRUNll:Nr AND THE ECONO.iY
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July 2014
Thomas Frieden, MD, MPH
Director
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road
Atlanta, 30333
Dear Director Frieden: you know, the United States currently experiencing crisis our southern border. The influx families and unaccompanied children the border poses many risks, including grave public health threats. physician for over thirty years, well aware the dangers infectious diseases pose. fact, infectious diseases remain the top ten causes death the United States. However, the United States has been successful mitigating eradicating many diseases, and others are not indigenous this country. such, reports illegal migrants canying deadly diseases such swine flu, dengue fever, Ebola virus, and tuberculosis are particularly concerning. Many the children who are coming across the border also lack basic vaccinations such those prevent chicken pox measles. This makes those Americans that are not vaccinated-and especially young children and the elderly-particularly susceptible.
Repmis have indicated that several border agents have contracted diseases through contact with the unaccompanied minors. the unaccompanied children continue transported shelters around the country commercial airlines and other forms transportation, have serious concerns that the diseases cmried these children may begin spread too rapidly control. fact, you undoubtedly know, some these diseases have known cure. aware that the CDC activating its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) response the growing public health crisis posed the influx minors, yet information regmding this activation has been sparse. While think activation the EOC important step recognizing the severe and dangerous nature this crisis, famly believe the public deserves know the specific actions the EOC and other departments the CDC me taking combat and prevent the spread communicable diseases. request that the CDC take immediate action assess the public risk posed the influx unaccompanied children and their subsequent transfer different parts the country. strongly feel that the public should notified this risk, and that all appropriate depmiments should
actively seeking solutions mitigate what could become public health crisis. would also like information what being done protect border patrol agents who come contact with these diseases, what decontamination efforts are talcing place, and what included medical screenings the children. Additionally, believe that medical providers should put alert and that the CDC should provide guidelines the public about how protect themselves from potential infection.
Sincerely,